One of the biggest Italian sopranos, Mirella Freni, died Sunday at the age of 84 at her home in Modena following a long illness, elected officials of her region told the Italian press. The announcement immediately sparked an anthology of tributes on specialist opera sites around the world.
Born in Modena like the tenor Luciano Pavarotti, of which she was the partner on stage and a great friend, Mirella Freni was a star of the “after Callas” at the Scala in Milan. She particularly shone in the Italian repertoire, especially in the roles of Mimi ( La Bohème by Puccini) and Desdémone ( Otello by Verdi).
